"Five reasons Chicago is in worse shape than Detroit" via Bloomberg

[TTime]

I realize it's a subjective opinion, but of the many adjectives used to describe Chicago [[or any big city in the Midwest, for that matter) "beautiful" would not come to mind. Vibrant, yes. Hard-working, yes. Interesting, definitely.

But a completely flat landscape, industrial and railroads, giant freeways everywhere, functional Great Lakes-style housing and commercial strips, do not exactly trump the glories of the Barri Gotic or Saint Germain.

I mean, have you been to Florence? To Venice? To Brugge? Hell, to San Francisco? You honestly think that Illinois tops Tuscany? Much of the industrial midwest is frankly pretty ugly. It's a pretty grim drive going from MI into Chicago.

Bham you should go the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago this summer and then maybe stroll through the park down to the beach to take in the skyline and if you still think it isn't beautiful I'll apologize for wasting your time and money but my guess is that apology won't be necessary.

[Bham1982]

Bham you should go the Old Town Art Fair in Chicago this summer and then maybe stroll through the park down to the beach to take in the skyline and if you still think it isn't beautiful I'll apologize for wasting your time and money but my guess is that apology won't be necessary.

I know Old Town in Chicago very well, and if you think that Old Town's workers cottages and 1980's postmodern condo boxes trump the glories of Paris and Barcelona, then yeah, we're definitely gonna have to disagree on that one. Wells Street isn't exactly La Rambla, or even Brooklyn, Boston or SF for that matter.

Chicago is vibrant but not very attractive, at least if we're comparing to places outside of the industrial Midwest. It's flat and very utilitarian in built-form. Like all the cities in the Midwest, it was built for hardworking folks who don't like ostentation.

[TTime]

I know Old Town in Chicago very well, and if you think that Old Town's workers cottages and 1980's postmodern condo boxes trump the glories of Paris and Barcelona, then yeah, we're definitely gonna have to disagree on that one. Wells Street isn't exactly La Rambla, or even Brooklyn, Boston or SF for that matter.

Chicago is vibrant but not very attractive, at least if we're comparing to places outside of the industrial Midwest. It's flat and very utilitarian in built-form. Like all the cities in the Midwest, it was built for hardworking folks who don't like ostentation.

Your simple assessment of Old Town leads me to believe you don't know it as well as you think you do. Anyway, no point in arguing taste.

[Bham1982]

Your simple assessment of Old Town leads me to believe you don't know it as well as you think you do. Anyway, no point in arguing taste.

If you are arguing that Old Town isn't actually as I described "workers cottages and po-mo condo boxes", then you are simply ignorant of Old Town's housing stock.

It's a traditionally working class neighborhood with utilitarian housing. It started to gentrify during the 1960's, as it was the hippie neighborhood for Chicago during that turbulent era. It was fully gentrified by the 1980's, when typical condo boxes and McMansions started springing up everywhere, between the older cottages and urban renewal-era townhouses and subsidized housing.

[TTime]

If you are arguing that Old Town isn't actually as I described "workers cottages and po-mo condo boxes", then you are simply ignorant of Old Town's housing stock.

It's a traditionally working class neighborhood with utilitarian housing. It started to gentrify during the 1960's, as it was the hippie neighborhood for Chicago during that turbulent era. It was fully gentrified by the 1980's, when typical condo boxes and McMansions started springing up everywhere, between the older cottages and urban renewal-era townhouses and subsidized housing.

Ha yes I lived there for 5 years and as I said your assessment is simple and wrong. The area may have those ingredients but to say that's all it consists of is silly. Since it's a gorgeous day today and neither one of us is overly argumentative and depressed I'm going to have to sign off and say good day.